Category Archives: 2017 REAL ESTATE FORECAST

For most of us, our bedroom is little more than a place to sleep and relax. However, just because it’s always been that way doesn’t mean that we have to settle for drab and dreary.

One trend that’s gaining steam these days is converting your current bedroom into a luxury suite (or something comparable). If you want to live like you’re renting a room at the Ritz, then you want to follow these tips.

Compartmentalize Your Activities

Making your bedroom more functional is going to make it more luxurious. Add a gorgeous desk for working and a TV area for entertainment, and you’ll be living it up in no time.

Make it Chic

Choose a color palette that is both luxurious and classy. Silver and gold can seem tacky, so choose muted shades that compliment each other.

Also, a brilliant and commanding headboard can instantly upgrade the look of your room without any other changes.

Light it Properly

Finally, make sure that you have the right light to show off your designs. If it’s too washed out or yellow, then it will look drab and run down. Switch to brilliant LEDs and see the difference.

Choose Your Accents Wisely

We already mentioned a headboard, but some elegant drapes can also make your room feel more royal. Being strategic with your furniture accessories is going to both keep you under budget and avoid doing too much with the space.

Are you ready to lux your bedroom? You’ll be impressed by the results, and the feeling of decadence will make you more confident in your surroundings.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Five Star award Winner 2011- 2020 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

I hope this finds you healthy staying positive and not too stir crazy in the midst of this crisis. Many of you have reached out to me to talk about how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the real estate market so I thought I would start sharing local market data, as well as my professional experience in the day to day real estate world with you.

Overall, the number of listings coming on the market was increasing up until about mid-March, since then new listings have slowed a bit. Real estate is still considered an “essential” business and we are still showing homes under a strict code of conduct to ensure safety and health for all parties involved. Title companies are doing remote signings and one on one appointments with social distancing guidelines in place for signings requiring notaries.

There are still buyers and sellers actively pursuing real estate. In fact, 347 homes went pending last week (3/30/20-4/6/2020) in the Portland-Metro areas:

As a full time real estate broker of 24 years, I have been through many market changes and have weathered many Real Estate storms, including the boom of the early 2000’s, 9-11, the great economic recession of 2008, as well as the hot & fast appreciating market of the last 5-6 years. I have the experience, extensive skills, “know how” and expansive resources to help you through this changing time. I have no crystal ball, but what I do know is these changes are temporary and can shift a market in a way that can create a lot of opportunity.

Let’s stay in touch through this and I’ll keep you posted with what’s happening!

Always feel free to call, text or email me!

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!!

Five Star award Winner 2011- 2020 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

If you’re considering getting a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC), make sure you understand how the tax rules have changed.

First of all, it’s important to clarify that acquisition debt is when money borrowed against your home is used to buy, build or improve a primary or secondary home. Home equity debt is when the money is used for something other than your home, such as paying student loans or funding a business.

Under previous tax laws, taxpayers could deduct interest on home equity debt – no matter what the money was used for – as long as the total mortgage debt was below $1 million, according to Realtor.com®.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act suspends this deduction unless the loan is used to “buy, build or substantially improve” a home, according to the IRS. Acquisition debt is still tax deductible, but the total debt limit was lowered from $1 million to $750,000.

Keep receipts from your home improvement projects and consult a tax professional to help you navigate your specific situation.

Five Star award Winner 2011-2018 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

How to pull off a neutral room

A neutral decorating scheme can create a beautiful, serene space. Neutrals are also flexible, making it easy to swap out pieces as you feel inspired. Consider these design tips to make the most of neutrals in any room.

Add warm hues. Wood accents are a great way to add warmth and keep a neutral room from feeling cold or sterile. Try displaying wood cutting boards or adding a natural wood shelf in the kitchen. Crate&Barrel designers suggest using a walnut mid-century bench as a coffee table to bring a unique element to your living space.

Lead the eye. Hang an abstract painting in soft neutrals to draw the eye upward, says Crate&Barrel. You could also consider adding a pop of color through a tall plant or an accent pillow with a bold pattern.

Use metal accents. Metals pop against a neutral backdrop. Choose metal light fixtures and drawer pulls, or display metallic kitchen utensils. ElleDecor.com predicts that copper and rose gold are fading out for 2019, so consider more natural-looking metals such as polished nickel and antique brass.

Five Star award Winner 2011-2018 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

It’s hard to deny the charm of gathering around warm, flickering flames to read a book or share stories with your family. Fireplaces tend to evoke an emotional response from buyers and most people are willing to pay more to get one.

According to a survey from Angie’s List approximately 25 percent of home buyers said

they would pay up to $1,000 more for a fireplace, 35 percent would pay $1,000-$5,000 extra and 18 percent would pay even more. While gas and electric fireplaces are practical, the survey found that wood-burning fireplaces have the greatest appeal. About 60 percent of homeowners and home buyers throughout the country prefer the ambience of a wood-burning fireplace.

If you have the luxury of any type of fireplace, here are a few ways to make it extra cozy:

Start by having your fireplace and chimney serviced. The National Association of Home Builders recommends an inspection by a CSIA-certified chimney sweep once a year.

Arrange seating with the fireplace as the focal point. Add a few floor cushions or large pillows to make it even more inviting.

For a rustic coziness, stack real logs in or next to a wood-burning fireplace (even if you don’t plan to burn them). Place a basket on the hearth to hold blankets, making it easy to curl up by the fire.

For help selling your home, or buying a home with a fireplace please call, email or text anytime to get started.

Five Star award Winner 2011-2018 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

Ready to refresh a bedroom in your home? Here are five steps to get the process headed in the right direction.

Choose a color scheme. Don’t make this decision harder than it is. If you’re stuck on choosing a color, start with a neutral (such as gray, creamy white or taupe) and decide on one or two accents that can be easily changed as time goes on.

Start sorting. Before you bring in anything new, you must get rid of the old. Donate current bedding, furniture and decorative items that cannot be recycled or refinished to fit the new decorating theme.

Pick timeless pieces. For the big-ticket items like a comforter or dresser, choose pieces that will stand the test of time. Use smaller items like throw pillows to add color, texture and patterns.

Change up the layout. While new furniture and a coat of paint can help change the feel of a room, a new layout can take it one step farther. Rearrange furnishings to give your room a fresh feel.

Switch out light fixtures. If you have a floor lamp, add a chandelier. If you like to read at night, add some soft lighting over your bed. Look for warm lights and avoid fluorescent bulbs that will make your room feel sterile.

IT’S A GOOD LIFE!

Five Star award Winner 2011- 2018 honoring the top 7% of real estate professionals in Oregon.

Rachel was an amazing agent to us! She explained the entire process from start to finish before we even began searching for homes. She shows the the entire range of homes that fit your price and was able to beat out a competing buyer to get us our dream home! We will be using her for all real estate needs in the future! 5/5 stars